Reel World

Green Screen

Green the Scene: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Film Production is a three-hour workshop designed to teach filmmakers how to shoot a movie without harming the environment. Everything from energy management to environmentally friendly set construction will be discussed in this practical “how to” session. The free class is being taught by Holly Roach, a local location manager and founder of Green Production Resource, and Lauren Selman of Reel Green Media. Combined, these ladies have worked on more than 20 “green” films. Their workshop will be held at the Center for Progress and Justice in Santa Fe (1420 Cerrillos) on Saturday, April 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. Space is limited. To sign up, email michelle@iatselocal480.com.

Progressive Cinema

The Instituto Cervantes at the National Hispanic Cultural Center continues its Cinema in Progress series this Thursday, April 5, with The Violin. In an unnamed Latin America country, the government fights an insurgency through a campaign of torture, assault, rape and murder. When the military surrounds a rural town, cutting the rebels off from a crucial supply of ammunition, it’s up to an elderly musician to come up with a plan. He’s conscripted by the local commanding officer for daily music lessons, and the musician accepts the dangerous task of smuggling ammunition in his violin case. Writer-director Francisco Vargas’ award-winning 2005 film is presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is free, but seating is limited. The screening takes place at 7 p.m. inside the NHCC’s Bank of America Theatre.

Ongoing Series

Seems like everybody is flexing their filmmaking muscles with a web series these days. Although fame is rare and monetary reward even more elusive, directing an ongoing web series is an excellent, egalitarian way for up-and-coming filmmakers to get their visions out to the world at large. New Mexico has seen a rash of commendable web series lately (Matt Page’s “Enter the Dojo,” Dan Mathis’ “Flock,” Hannah Macpherson’s “Date Doctor,” John KD Graham’s “Alter-Ego,” Peter Kershaw’s “Cyphers,” Phillip Hughes’ “The Scare Game”). Adding to this growing list is “SuperBeer,” a dark superhero parody written and directed by Amber LeRae Earls and starring such homebrewed Burque talent as Nick Lopez, David Busse, Zach Dulin, Merritt Glover and Scott Bryan. The first episode went live in late March and the second episode is already in the can. You can follow it yourself on the series’ Youtube channel.